Cole DeLatte
Aimee Barrios
English 101
11-14-2017
“Checkers”
The “Checkers Speech” or “Fund Speech” was an address to the public made on September 23, 1952, by Richard Nixon, the Republican candidate for Vice President of the United States. Nixon had been accused to of using money from a fund established by his campaign funders to reimburse him for his political expenses. It was a half hour speech televised from Los Angeles with the purpose of persuading the public into supporting him, attack his opponents, and to give off the persona that he was an “average joe”. Nixon relies on mainly on ethos to make the audience feel as if he is just like them, an average American. Nixon was accused of using money that was put in a fund by anonymous …show more content…
Nixon opened the speech by stating that he would not ignore charges like president Truman did, he would come out and tell the public the whole truth from his position. Nixon stated in his speech, “Not one cent of the $18,000 or any other money of that type ever went to me for my personal use. Every penny of it was used to pay for political expenses that I did not think should be charged to the taxpayers of the United States.” which is a clear indication of ethos. Nixon says that his integrity and honesty had come into question by the American people, but he wanted to show them that he was just trying to save them from having to pay for all of his political expenses such as traveling, speeches, etc. Nixon remained constant that all of the contributors were anonymous and that they did not receive any special services. Nixon discussed ways of meeting political expenses, you could either be rich, continue work outside of office, or put your wife on the payroll. Nixon thought it to be morally wrong for him to put his wife on his staff as there were already so many great stenographers looking for work, again using ethos to try and improve his image. Nixon aso claimed that he wasn’t rich, having only a $12,000 salary, a $60,000 house, in which he owed on, no insurance on his wife or kids and the only thing he had for savings were $10,000 in bonds. He states in his speech, “That's what we have and that's what we owe. It …show more content…
Nixon denied accepting any gifts except this one, a spotted cocker spaniel that his family loved very much and his daughter named “Checkers”. He expressed how his daughter felt about the dog by stating, “And you know, the kids, like all kids, love the dog and I just want to say this right now, that regardless of what they say about it, we're gonna keep it”. Nixon said that many politicains were wealthy and inherited their money, but the modest citizens, like himself, should also get a chance in politics, again using ethos trying to boost his image as a common man.
Nixon wanted to be seen as a common and honest man running for Vice President, and as he used ethos to improve his image and explained his income and value to boost his credibility, he also tried to subtly tear down other politicians. Nixon attacked many of the democrats, telling them to release their financial earnings and their fund records just as he did or they would be seen as crooks. He also went as far as to say that Stevenson, a democratic candidate, was attempting to downplay communism and that he was unfit to be
Aimee Barrios
English 101
11-14-2017
“Checkers”
The “Checkers Speech” or “Fund Speech” was an address to the public made on September 23, 1952, by Richard Nixon, the Republican candidate for Vice President of the United States. Nixon had been accused to of using money from a fund established by his campaign funders to reimburse him for his political expenses. It was a half hour speech televised from Los Angeles with the purpose of persuading the public into supporting him, attack his opponents, and to give off the persona that he was an “average joe”. Nixon relies on mainly on ethos to make the audience feel as if he is just like them, an average American. Nixon was accused of using money that was put in a fund by anonymous …show more content…
Nixon opened the speech by stating that he would not ignore charges like president Truman did, he would come out and tell the public the whole truth from his position. Nixon stated in his speech, “Not one cent of the $18,000 or any other money of that type ever went to me for my personal use. Every penny of it was used to pay for political expenses that I did not think should be charged to the taxpayers of the United States.” which is a clear indication of ethos. Nixon says that his integrity and honesty had come into question by the American people, but he wanted to show them that he was just trying to save them from having to pay for all of his political expenses such as traveling, speeches, etc. Nixon remained constant that all of the contributors were anonymous and that they did not receive any special services. Nixon discussed ways of meeting political expenses, you could either be rich, continue work outside of office, or put your wife on the payroll. Nixon thought it to be morally wrong for him to put his wife on his staff as there were already so many great stenographers looking for work, again using ethos to try and improve his image. Nixon aso claimed that he wasn’t rich, having only a $12,000 salary, a $60,000 house, in which he owed on, no insurance on his wife or kids and the only thing he had for savings were $10,000 in bonds. He states in his speech, “That's what we have and that's what we owe. It …show more content…
Nixon denied accepting any gifts except this one, a spotted cocker spaniel that his family loved very much and his daughter named “Checkers”. He expressed how his daughter felt about the dog by stating, “And you know, the kids, like all kids, love the dog and I just want to say this right now, that regardless of what they say about it, we're gonna keep it”. Nixon said that many politicains were wealthy and inherited their money, but the modest citizens, like himself, should also get a chance in politics, again using ethos trying to boost his image as a common man.
Nixon wanted to be seen as a common and honest man running for Vice President, and as he used ethos to improve his image and explained his income and value to boost his credibility, he also tried to subtly tear down other politicians. Nixon attacked many of the democrats, telling them to release their financial earnings and their fund records just as he did or they would be seen as crooks. He also went as far as to say that Stevenson, a democratic candidate, was attempting to downplay communism and that he was unfit to be